Rodgers: The strength has to be the team, not one player

Liverpool manager has stressed that he wants the strength of the side to be the team and not one individual player.

Rodgers has given his views on the role Daniel Sturridge will play, now that Luis Suarez has departed the club for Barcelona, with many saying that Sturridge will have to impress even more to fill the void left by Suarez.

Sturridge and Suarez formed a formidable partnership during their time at the club together, as they scored 52 goals between them last season.

But during the first five games of last season Sturridge was leading the line on his own and scored four goals during that time, despite struggling with a thigh injury.

The club is in the market for another striker, but given the performances and record that Sturridge has since joining the club, the likelihood is that he will chip in with the Lion's share of the goals once again.

But the Liverpool manager has stressed he doesn't want to rely on one player.

Rodgers had this to say: "In the times Daniel [Sturridge] has played up there without Luis he has shown his qualities. But the onus is not really on one player, the strength of us has been the team.

"When I came in, people talked about how Luis didn't score regularly, how he didn't get enough opportunities or take them. In the last two years we've proved with the number of chances we create you can get goals."

Clearly Rodgers would like the rest of the team to step up their goalscoring exploits to plug the 31-goal gap that has left the club in the form of Suarez, whilst tightening up their leaky defence is also likely to be of help.

It seems as though a striker will be one of Liverpool's priorities, with Queens Park Rangers forward Loic Remy seemingly a target, to go along with defensive targets and possibly a midfielder as the Reds begin life without their talismanic striker in the hope of challenging for the Premier League title again, and competing in the Champions League.

Ian Bolland

A journalism graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. During his time at university, Ian spent time on work experience at local newspapers in Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan, and prior to that he did work for The Observer's 'fans verdict'. Ian also has interests in news, current affairs and business but mostly sport, including football, rugby league, cricket, golf and Formula 1, amongst others.